The Performance

City of Traverse City

400 Boardman Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-4480
(231) 922-4485 (Fax)
www.traversecitymi.gov

2014

City of Traverse City

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DIRECTORY OF OFFICIALS - 2014

Message from City Manager Jered Ottenwess

Page 2

Increased Amenities / Community Enhancements

Page 3 & 4

Securing Our Future

Pages 4 & 5

Governance

Page 5 & 6

Infrastructure Investments

Page 6 & 7

Operations

Page 7 & 8

Accolades / Raising the Bar

Page 9

Directory of Officials

Page 10

City Commission
Mayor Michael Estes
Mayor Pro Tem Barbara D. Budros
Commissioner James Carruthers
Commissioner Jeanine Easterday
Commissioner Gary L. Howe
Commissioner Ross Richardson
Commissioner Tim Werner
City Officials
City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
City Treasurer/Finance Director

Jered Ottenwess
Lauren Trible-Laucht
Benjamin C. Marentette
William E. Twietmeyer
Department Directors

City Assessor
City Engineer
Fire Chief
Police Chief
Planning Director
Public Services Director
Downtown Development Authority Executive Director
Traverse City Light and Power Executive Director

10

Polly Cairns
Timothy J. Lodge
James Tuller
Michael Warren
Russell A. Soyring
David Green
Robert Bacigalupi
Timothy Arends

Accolades / Raising the Bar:

Traverse City was named one of the Top Six
Best Small Towns to Visit This Summer
by the Huffington Post.
Where to Retire Magazine dubbed Traverse
City as one of the top cities to retire to.
For the twenty-fifth year, Traverse City
was recognized as Tree City USA for its
dedication to trees and plants in our community.
Designated Americas Most Romantic Town, Traverse City was named by the
Travel and Leisure Magazine as your place for a romantic getaway.
Redbook Magazines listed Traverse City among its Best Travel Finds of 2014.
Recognized for its dining, Traverse City is considered one of the Top Ten Foodie
Citys in the country by Livability.com.
The City of Traverse City received a Placemaking Award from Grand Traverse
County Planning and Development for the Water Bottle Filling Stations project.
Travel Channel named Traverse City as one of the Top Seven Beer Destinations in
the United States.
Designated a Top Ten Small Town, by Livability.com as a place to be in 2014.
Seeing the World in a Weekend, the Frugal Travel Guys calls Traverse City your
next weekend visit.
The Daily Traveler gives Five Reasons to Consider Traverse City as your next vacation destination.
The City of Traverse City received the
Presidents Award for its enhancements to
Clinch Park from the Keep Michigan Beautiful Organization.
One of Americas Favorite Towns, Travel and
Leisure named Traverse City as one of
their favorite small towns.

______________________________________________________
The City of Traverse City
Office of the City Manager

GOVERNMENTAL CENTER
400 Boardman Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-4440

tcmanage@traversecitymi.gov
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Happy Holidays!
The City of Traverse City staff and I would like to take this opportunity to present
you with a summary of our accomplishments in 2014. It is important to us to illustrate the efficient and effective use of your tax dollars to serve our community.
This is not intended to be a comprehensive review, but rather a summary of items
focusing on the big picture, demonstrating to our citizens that goals can be achieved
when we work together.
Our success is a result from the effort of many, including the City Commission,
City employees, members of our volunteer boards and committees, and residents
and businesses that call Traverse City home. It is encouraging to know our community is making great strides in the right direction. To all who have helped in creating a more successful Traverse City, we say Thank You!
It is an honor and a privilege to serve you - the citizens of Traverse City - and we
thank you for your confidence in us.
Best wishes for the Holidays and New Year! We look forward to the challenges and
opportunities in 2015.

Jered Ottenwess
City Manager

Traverse City was named number six on a

TripAdvisor top ten list of Travelers Choice
Destinations on the Rise in the United
States.
9

Increased Amenities / Community Enhancements:

Working together, the Downtown Development Authority and Traverse City Light
and Power installed a state-of-the-art WIFI system in the Downtown District,
complimentary to our residents and visitors.
Finished the West End Beach
Trail and Access Project, extending trails along West End
Beach.
To expand its communications
effort, Traverse City Light and
Power launched a Facebook
Page.
Downtown Direct, a program
that offers free bus passes to
Downtown employees and encourages the use of public
transit, was created through a
partnership of the Downtown Development Authority, Traverse City Parking Services, and Bay Area Transportation
Authority.
Downtown Traverse City continues to expand its social media presence to engage with the public and added an Instagram account to its already-existing Facebook and Twitter accounts. #downtowntc
Completed a multi-use West Boardman Lake Trail
and small watercraft launch, to ensure access to all users.
Installed a viewing platform and ramped access to West
End Beach to give access to beach goers of all abilities.
Through fundraising efforts, the City installed seven water bottle filling stations, eliminating over 50,000 plastic
water bottles from landfills.
To greatly enhance the Citys digital inventory of
properties, obtained updated 2014 aerial imagery.
To expand its communication efforts and provide better online customer service, the
City revitalized its website.

Operations (cont):
Treated over one million gallons of high quality drinking water at the Water
Treatment Plant, ensuring safe water for our residents.
Facilitated and approved fifty-one special event requests, ensuring compliance with
all regulations and proper coordination of event logistics.
Successfully completed the Michigan State Tax Commission Audit of Assessing
Requirements.
As part of Traverse City Light and Powers underground cabinet and streetlight pole
painting maintenance project, 40% of the underground cabinets and 667 streetlights have been painted throughout Traverse City.
In partnership with National Take Back Prescription Drug Day a permanent drop
POD for the safe disposal of expired or unwanted over-the-counter medications and
prescription drugs was installed in the lobby of the Dennis W. Finch Law Enforcement
Center, alowing 3,362 pounds of medications to be properly disposed of.
Completed a Water System Reliability Study for the City water distribution system to ensure efficiency within the system.
Reviewed and updated photos and sketches for over 1,100
City properties, safeguarding accuracy of records.
Through extensive six-day training, the department K-9, ZUK
and his handler, received re-certification from the International Police Working Dog Association (IPWDA).
Helping to better manage trash issues, the Downtown Development Authority purchased a Solar Trash Compactor.
Conducted a pump test on the Low and High Service
Pumps at the Water Treatment Plant to verify individual
pump capacities.
The Traverse City Fire Department installed 41 smoke
alarms in residential homes, ensuring the safety of our residents.
Conducted in-depth analysis of the Citys operational functions and negotiated
comprehensive insurance coverage for a broad range of City operations, with a
variety of specialty coverages, to protect the Citys financial position and stability.
Audited and reviewed over $500 million in required insurance policies, protecting
the Citys financial poise.

Infrastructure Investments (cont):

Purchased and installed eight in-street pedestrian crossings signs, increasing the
safety of our pedestrians.
To enhance the quality of drinking water, invested $35,000 in the coagulant feed
system for treatment of the Citys drinking water.

Increased Amenities / Community Enhancements (cont):

To increase the functionality of Eighth Street for non-motorized and motorized
users, the City launched a pilot project for the reconfiguration of Eighth Street between Lake Avenue and Woodmere Avenue.

Securing our Future:

Invested $675,000 in funds to resurface City streets, enhancing the safety of our
streets.

A grant from the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments for $7,500 was
secured to continue moving toward goals set forth in the Kids Creek Master Plan.

Replaced one large sump pump at the Water Treatment Plant by investing $10,000
to increase reliability for the lagoon wash water discharge system.

Secured an AA+ with stable outlook Bond Rating from the Standard & Poors
Rating Services, which allows the City to secure funding at low cost.

Invested $14,000 to enhance the ability to conduct water flow measurements

and analysis at the Water Treatment Plant.

Planted 80 trees throughout the City with the help of $3,600 in grant funds from
the Department of Natural Resources.

Leveraging over $728,000, the West Boardman Lake Trail and Access Project
has been completed to increase walkability along Boardman Lake.

The Traverse City Fire Department provided 24 public education class events to
area agencies, teaching the importance of fire safety and fire regulations.

Invested $157,000 in funds to reconstruct Union St and Sequoia St, including the replacement of storm sewer
and the installation of two experimental
manhole castings on Union St.

To explore the feasibility of a multi-purpose 550 universally-accessible fishing pier,

the City obtained a $232,000 Great Lakes Fishery Trust Grant.

Invested $811,000 in membrane technology at the Wastewater Treatment

Plant to protect the quality of water in
our lakes and rivers.

Operations:
Traverse City Light and Power completed the third and final phase of the Consumers Energy to Traverse City Light and Power switchover project, giving the
majority of City residents the opportunity to be users of local power.
Following proper internal control checks and audits by the City Treasurers Office
and City Clerks Office authorized the proper disbursement of over $60 million
in funding, ensuring proper fiduciary responsibility.
Inspected over 400 rental homes in the community for compliance with safety
standards.
Processed over 700 property transfers, guaranteeing all regulations were met.

Traverse City Light and Power increased electrical service reliability by installing
a new East Hammond substation, an investment of $3.5 million.

Through training and education of fire personnel, the Traverse City Fire Department has been certified to perform repairs on self-contained breathing apparatus and to perform flow test evaluations, saving the department $3000 annually.
The electors of Traverse City passed the
Brown Bridge Trust Fund Ballot Proposal, allowing for money to be invested in
City parkland.
The Traverse City Fire Department
passed the Federal Aviation Administration inspection with a score of 100%, demonstrating a secure established department.
To combat the illegal distribution of child pornography, the Police Department
joined the Internet Crimes against Children task force, with the Michigan
State Police and several other Northern Michigan departments.

Securing our Future (cont):

Governance (cont):

Secured over $2 million in grant funding from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a comprehensive inventory of the Citys storm water and wastewater management assets to shape substantial infrastructure investment
and management decisions.

The Transportation Committee recommended

the addition of ten Traffic Control Orders
throughout the community to help improve local transportation standards.

Governance:

The Downtown Development Authority, along

with the Downtown Traverse City Association
continued to support the local economy by
sponsoring the Downtown Gift Certificate
Program with over $450,000 in sales.

Digitally captured and indexed over ten thousand pages of vital documents, preserving vital City records essential for the Citys operations, legal poise and transparency.
Approved fourteen liquor license requests, expanding economic activity.
The Traverse City Police Department investigated several major crimes leading
to the arrest and conviction of numerous suspects, ensuring the safety of our
Traverse City community.
Revised various sections of the Planning and Zoning regulations, to ensure
rules and regulations governing properties in the City are effective and preserving the Citys character.
Worked with the organizers of the
National Cherry Festival and Traverse City Film Festival to make operational changes to the events to ensure greater accessibility to nonmotorized pathways, improve waste
management efforts and other matters.
To balance the number of special
events allowed in the City, the City
Commission passed regulations to
lessen the footprint of events in public spaces.
Updated the Infrastructure Strategy Policy to incorporate the urban street design guide of the National Association of City Transportation Officials to guide
infrastructure investment decision-making.
To improve parking in the community, the Transportation Committee surveyed
six residential areas to determine parking regulation preferences in each area.
Reviewed and issued 30 permits for Sidewalk Cafes within the City, promoting
vibrant street life within an appropriate framework.

To provide increased security, Traverse City Parking Services installed 325 new
meter heads in Downtown Traverse City.
To enhance sidewalk passability for pedestrians of all abilities, the City Commission passed revised regulations regarding sidewalk cafes.
Addressed over 600 code enforcement complaints, to ensure compliance with
various ordinances aimed at preserving quality of life.

Infrastructure Investments:
To enhance the quality of drinking water, the City invested $225,000 at the Water
Treatment Plant by repairing two filters including replacing wall coatings and
filter media.
Secured $375,000 from the Michigan Department of Transportation for the
West Front Street Reconstruction Project, enhancing the functionality of the
street.
Invested over $300,000 in new sidewalk and gap infill construction to increase
safety on our City sidewalks.
To increase the safety of road users, invested $19,000 in funds to
add traffic calming pavement
markings to six City streets.
To create a more convenient way
to pay for parking, invested over
$75,000 in new technology to allow for payment of parking meters by mobile devices.

Securing our Future (cont):

Governance (cont):

Secured over $2 million in grant funding from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a comprehensive inventory of the Citys storm water and wastewater management assets to shape substantial infrastructure investment
and management decisions.

The Transportation Committee recommended

the addition of ten Traffic Control Orders
throughout the community to help improve local transportation standards.

Governance:

The Downtown Development Authority, along

with the Downtown Traverse City Association
continued to support the local economy by
sponsoring the Downtown Gift Certificate
Program with over $450,000 in sales.

Digitally captured and indexed over ten thousand pages of vital documents, preserving vital City records essential for the Citys operations, legal poise and transparency.
Approved fourteen liquor license requests, expanding economic activity.
The Traverse City Police Department investigated several major crimes leading
to the arrest and conviction of numerous suspects, ensuring the safety of our
Traverse City community.
Revised various sections of the Planning and Zoning regulations, to ensure
rules and regulations governing properties in the City are effective and preserving the Citys character.
Worked with the organizers of the
National Cherry Festival and Traverse City Film Festival to make operational changes to the events to ensure greater accessibility to nonmotorized pathways, improve waste
management efforts and other matters.
To balance the number of special
events allowed in the City, the City
Commission passed regulations to
lessen the footprint of events in public spaces.
Updated the Infrastructure Strategy Policy to incorporate the urban street design guide of the National Association of City Transportation Officials to guide
infrastructure investment decision-making.
To improve parking in the community, the Transportation Committee surveyed
six residential areas to determine parking regulation preferences in each area.
Reviewed and issued 30 permits for Sidewalk Cafes within the City, promoting
vibrant street life within an appropriate framework.

To provide increased security, Traverse City Parking Services installed 325 new
meter heads in Downtown Traverse City.
To enhance sidewalk passability for pedestrians of all abilities, the City Commission passed revised regulations regarding sidewalk cafes.
Addressed over 600 code enforcement complaints, to ensure compliance with
various ordinances aimed at preserving quality of life.

Infrastructure Investments:
To enhance the quality of drinking water, the City invested $225,000 at the Water
Treatment Plant by repairing two filters including replacing wall coatings and
filter media.
Secured $375,000 from the Michigan Department of Transportation for the
West Front Street Reconstruction Project, enhancing the functionality of the
street.
Invested over $300,000 in new sidewalk and gap infill construction to increase
safety on our City sidewalks.
To increase the safety of road users, invested $19,000 in funds to
add traffic calming pavement
markings to six City streets.
To create a more convenient way
to pay for parking, invested over
$75,000 in new technology to allow for payment of parking meters by mobile devices.

Infrastructure Investments (cont):

Purchased and installed eight in-street pedestrian crossings signs, increasing the
safety of our pedestrians.
To enhance the quality of drinking water, invested $35,000 in the coagulant feed
system for treatment of the Citys drinking water.

Increased Amenities / Community Enhancements (cont):

To increase the functionality of Eighth Street for non-motorized and motorized
users, the City launched a pilot project for the reconfiguration of Eighth Street between Lake Avenue and Woodmere Avenue.

Securing our Future:

Invested $675,000 in funds to resurface City streets, enhancing the safety of our
streets.

A grant from the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments for $7,500 was
secured to continue moving toward goals set forth in the Kids Creek Master Plan.

Replaced one large sump pump at the Water Treatment Plant by investing $10,000
to increase reliability for the lagoon wash water discharge system.

Secured an AA+ with stable outlook Bond Rating from the Standard & Poors
Rating Services, which allows the City to secure funding at low cost.

Invested $14,000 to enhance the ability to conduct water flow measurements

and analysis at the Water Treatment Plant.

Planted 80 trees throughout the City with the help of $3,600 in grant funds from
the Department of Natural Resources.

Leveraging over $728,000, the West Boardman Lake Trail and Access Project
has been completed to increase walkability along Boardman Lake.

The Traverse City Fire Department provided 24 public education class events to
area agencies, teaching the importance of fire safety and fire regulations.

Invested $157,000 in funds to reconstruct Union St and Sequoia St, including the replacement of storm sewer
and the installation of two experimental
manhole castings on Union St.

To explore the feasibility of a multi-purpose 550 universally-accessible fishing pier,

the City obtained a $232,000 Great Lakes Fishery Trust Grant.

Invested $811,000 in membrane technology at the Wastewater Treatment

Plant to protect the quality of water in
our lakes and rivers.

Operations:
Traverse City Light and Power completed the third and final phase of the Consumers Energy to Traverse City Light and Power switchover project, giving the
majority of City residents the opportunity to be users of local power.
Following proper internal control checks and audits by the City Treasurers Office
and City Clerks Office authorized the proper disbursement of over $60 million
in funding, ensuring proper fiduciary responsibility.
Inspected over 400 rental homes in the community for compliance with safety
standards.
Processed over 700 property transfers, guaranteeing all regulations were met.

Traverse City Light and Power increased electrical service reliability by installing
a new East Hammond substation, an investment of $3.5 million.

Through training and education of fire personnel, the Traverse City Fire Department has been certified to perform repairs on self-contained breathing apparatus and to perform flow test evaluations, saving the department $3000 annually.
The electors of Traverse City passed the
Brown Bridge Trust Fund Ballot Proposal, allowing for money to be invested in
City parkland.
The Traverse City Fire Department
passed the Federal Aviation Administration inspection with a score of 100%, demonstrating a secure established department.
To combat the illegal distribution of child pornography, the Police Department
joined the Internet Crimes against Children task force, with the Michigan
State Police and several other Northern Michigan departments.

Increased Amenities / Community Enhancements:

Working together, the Downtown Development Authority and Traverse City Light
and Power installed a state-of-the-art WIFI system in the Downtown District,
complimentary to our residents and visitors.
Finished the West End Beach
Trail and Access Project, extending trails along West End
Beach.
To expand its communications
effort, Traverse City Light and
Power launched a Facebook
Page.
Downtown Direct, a program
that offers free bus passes to
Downtown employees and encourages the use of public
transit, was created through a
partnership of the Downtown Development Authority, Traverse City Parking Services, and Bay Area Transportation
Authority.
Downtown Traverse City continues to expand its social media presence to engage with the public and added an Instagram account to its already-existing Facebook and Twitter accounts. #downtowntc
Completed a multi-use West Boardman Lake Trail
and small watercraft launch, to ensure access to all users.
Installed a viewing platform and ramped access to West
End Beach to give access to beach goers of all abilities.
Through fundraising efforts, the City installed seven water bottle filling stations, eliminating over 50,000 plastic
water bottles from landfills.
To greatly enhance the Citys digital inventory of
properties, obtained updated 2014 aerial imagery.
To expand its communication efforts and provide better online customer service, the
City revitalized its website.

Operations (cont):
Treated over one million gallons of high quality drinking water at the Water
Treatment Plant, ensuring safe water for our residents.
Facilitated and approved fifty-one special event requests, ensuring compliance with
all regulations and proper coordination of event logistics.
Successfully completed the Michigan State Tax Commission Audit of Assessing
Requirements.
As part of Traverse City Light and Powers underground cabinet and streetlight pole
painting maintenance project, 40% of the underground cabinets and 667 streetlights have been painted throughout Traverse City.
In partnership with National Take Back Prescription Drug Day a permanent drop
POD for the safe disposal of expired or unwanted over-the-counter medications and
prescription drugs was installed in the lobby of the Dennis W. Finch Law Enforcement
Center, alowing 3,362 pounds of medications to be properly disposed of.
Completed a Water System Reliability Study for the City water distribution system to ensure efficiency within the system.
Reviewed and updated photos and sketches for over 1,100
City properties, safeguarding accuracy of records.
Through extensive six-day training, the department K-9, ZUK
and his handler, received re-certification from the International Police Working Dog Association (IPWDA).
Helping to better manage trash issues, the Downtown Development Authority purchased a Solar Trash Compactor.
Conducted a pump test on the Low and High Service
Pumps at the Water Treatment Plant to verify individual
pump capacities.
The Traverse City Fire Department installed 41 smoke
alarms in residential homes, ensuring the safety of our residents.
Conducted in-depth analysis of the Citys operational functions and negotiated
comprehensive insurance coverage for a broad range of City operations, with a
variety of specialty coverages, to protect the Citys financial position and stability.
Audited and reviewed over $500 million in required insurance policies, protecting
the Citys financial poise.

Accolades / Raising the Bar:

Traverse City was named one of the Top Six
Best Small Towns to Visit This Summer
by the Huffington Post.
Where to Retire Magazine dubbed Traverse
City as one of the top cities to retire to.
For the twenty-fifth year, Traverse City
was recognized as Tree City USA for its
dedication to trees and plants in our community.
Designated Americas Most Romantic Town, Traverse City was named by the
Travel and Leisure Magazine as your place for a romantic getaway.
Redbook Magazines listed Traverse City among its Best Travel Finds of 2014.
Recognized for its dining, Traverse City is considered one of the Top Ten Foodie
Citys in the country by Livability.com.
The City of Traverse City received a Placemaking Award from Grand Traverse
County Planning and Development for the Water Bottle Filling Stations project.
Travel Channel named Traverse City as one of the Top Seven Beer Destinations in
the United States.
Designated a Top Ten Small Town, by Livability.com as a place to be in 2014.
Seeing the World in a Weekend, the Frugal Travel Guys calls Traverse City your
next weekend visit.
The Daily Traveler gives Five Reasons to Consider Traverse City as your next vacation destination.
The City of Traverse City received the
Presidents Award for its enhancements to
Clinch Park from the Keep Michigan Beautiful Organization.
One of Americas Favorite Towns, Travel and
Leisure named Traverse City as one of
their favorite small towns.

______________________________________________________
The City of Traverse City
Office of the City Manager

GOVERNMENTAL CENTER
400 Boardman Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-4440

tcmanage@traversecitymi.gov
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Happy Holidays!
The City of Traverse City staff and I would like to take this opportunity to present
you with a summary of our accomplishments in 2014. It is important to us to illustrate the efficient and effective use of your tax dollars to serve our community.
This is not intended to be a comprehensive review, but rather a summary of items
focusing on the big picture, demonstrating to our citizens that goals can be achieved
when we work together.
Our success is a result from the effort of many, including the City Commission,
City employees, members of our volunteer boards and committees, and residents
and businesses that call Traverse City home. It is encouraging to know our community is making great strides in the right direction. To all who have helped in creating a more successful Traverse City, we say Thank You!
It is an honor and a privilege to serve you - the citizens of Traverse City - and we
thank you for your confidence in us.
Best wishes for the Holidays and New Year! We look forward to the challenges and
opportunities in 2015.

Jered Ottenwess
City Manager

Traverse City was named number six on a

TripAdvisor top ten list of Travelers Choice
Destinations on the Rise in the United
States.
9

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DIRECTORY OF OFFICIALS - 2014

Message from City Manager Jered Ottenwess

Page 2

Increased Amenities / Community Enhancements

Page 3 & 4

Securing Our Future

Pages 4 & 5

Governance

Page 5 & 6

Infrastructure Investments

Page 6 & 7

Operations

Page 7 & 8

Accolades / Raising the Bar

Page 9

Directory of Officials

Page 10

City Commission
Mayor Michael Estes
Mayor Pro Tem Barbara D. Budros
Commissioner James Carruthers
Commissioner Jeanine Easterday
Commissioner Gary L. Howe
Commissioner Ross Richardson
Commissioner Tim Werner
City Officials
City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
City Treasurer/Finance Director

Jered Ottenwess
Lauren Trible-Laucht
Benjamin C. Marentette
William E. Twietmeyer
Department Directors

City Assessor
City Engineer
Fire Chief
Police Chief
Planning Director
Public Services Director
Downtown Development Authority Executive Director
Traverse City Light and Power Executive Director

10

Polly Cairns
Timothy J. Lodge
James Tuller
Michael Warren
Russell A. Soyring
David Green
Robert Bacigalupi
Timothy Arends

The Performance
City of Traverse City
400 Boardman Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-4480
(231) 922-4485 (Fax)
www.traversecitymi.gov

2014

City of Traverse City